, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. That's fine.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
It's a defining one. It's a defining one, isn't it?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
There are two areas, aren't there, where disputes resolutions are really critical. One is in terms of legislation, if you reach disagreement around a Sewel issue and you're unable to resolve it. The second is about money, of course. There have been two…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
'Too early to say.' Yes, it does sound like a script. Let's look at two aspects of that: the secretariat and disputes resolution. Those are two areas that the committee took an interest in at our last conversation on these matters. Many members of the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
That's what 'embryonic'—. Yes. [Laughter.]
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
'Embryonic' is a great word, Minister. It doesn't really say much at all, does it?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. So, glimmers of sunshine.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
You've described the inter-governmental relations at the moment and the somewhat chaotic processes that characterise them in terms of legislation. Is there any good news?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'm interested as to how you believe, Counsel General, that this proposed Bill may fit into our common frameworks, internal market Act frameworks, and how you will approach dealing with some of these areas, because one of the things that we've found through…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, that's what you just said.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Isn't that the question? Why does it take several years to get legislation through this place?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'm grateful.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Absolutely. Which is not scrutiny of legislation, of course. I think it may be useful—I don't want to hold things up here, unduly—for us to look, Chair, at, for example, the Building Safety Act 2022 and how the legislative consent process ran out of control…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
And this is the question I have for you, Counsel General. I think we've all been unhappy—I think Welsh Government has found itself unhappy and certainly the Senedd has been unhappy with the way in which we've dealt with legislative consent motions over the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'll come on to Sewel in a moment. Can we just stick with the legislation structures and processes for a moment, though? In terms of where we are, I read the First Minister's written statement, I think it was, just after the Queen's Speech last month, and, as…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think this is something that we may wish to return to, Chair. I won't pursue all these matters with the Counsel General this afternoon. Have you, or has the First Minister, or other Ministers, raised the chaos that you describe with UK Ministers as part of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'm not sure I can. You seem to be describing a pretty chaotic situation, Counsel General. My understanding was that, I think, in the old days it was devolution advice note 9 or some other instrument, and today it may be the fabled Cabinet Manual, if that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
I'm grateful to the Minister for that response. One of the most important elements of the economic strategy in the Heads of the Valleys, of course, is Tech Valleys, which is in my constituency. Will the Minister confirm the budget of £100 million for that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Economy
4. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's economic strategy for the Heads of the Valleys? OQ58182
, Plenary
Debate: Broadcasting
It was Carolyn Thomas and not Alun Davies.
, Plenary
Debate: Broadcasting
I have to say that I was somewhat surprised to see this item on our order paper for this afternoon and the debate that's been taking place. I do agree with much of what the Minister said in opening the debate, but I always find debates on these matters…
, Plenary
Debate: Broadcasting
I appreciate the points that you've been making in your opening contribution, but, of course, you say there is a coalition of support for these matters. The Labour Party isn't a part of that coalition. As far as I'm aware, the policy of Welsh Labour is not to…
, Plenary
Debate: Broadcasting
Will the Minister take an intervention?
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
And that is why—and that is why—they're sitting where they're sitting, and they will continue to sit where they're sitting. It is important—it is important, it is important—First Minister, that the people of Blaenau Gwent have a Government that stands with…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
—and they always laugh when people are suffering.
